Qin Yining and Qin Huaiyuan exchanged glances, and both father and daughter saw a knowing understanding in each other’s eyes that this was within expectations.
“It seems your method has been effective.” Qin Huaiyuan held Zhao Ge’er while placing a piece on the chess board, producing a crisp sound on the wooden surface.
Han Ge’er squirmed in Qin Yining’s arms, curiously stretching his neck to look outside the tent entrance, making it impossible for Qin Yining to focus on chess.
“Mother, outside—I want to go play outside.”
“Doesn’t Han Ge’er want to learn chess anymore?” Qin Yining pinched Han Ge’er’s soft little cheek.
Han Ge’er simply buried his head in Qin Yining’s embrace, wiggling his bottom and shaking his head: “No! Mother, Han Ge’er wants to go outside and look! Big brother wants to go too!”
Zhao Ge’er was playing with chess pieces in his hands, seemingly surprised that he could be “implicated” without saying a word, and looked at Han Ge’er in amazement.
Han Ge’er had already bounced out of Qin Yining’s arms and grabbed Zhao Ge’er’s hand to run outside: “Big brother, let’s go!”
Qin Yining and Qin Huaiyuan couldn’t help but shake their heads and laugh as the father and daughter went outside the tent together.
Their main tent was located in the center of the camp, still far from the city gates, but soldiers all around were discussing the situation. Even without seeing it firsthand, they could guess what was happening at the gates.
The soldiers saw Qin Yining and Qin Huaiyuan passing by with the two children and all cupped their hands in respectful salutes, holding great respect for the prince’s father-in-law and princess consort.
Arriving at the front lines, before they could approach Pang Xiao, they could already see the city gates wide open with crowds of people visible inside, though it wasn’t clear what those inside intended to do.
Xu Weizhi, Xie Yue, and others had already gathered around Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu, all wearing calm expressions. With their absolute military advantage, they knew Li Qitian couldn’t stir up any trouble, so they felt no tension whatsoever—if anything, they seemed faintly excited.
Having been camped outside the city for so many days without further orders from the prince, they had long been itching for action! Though launching a general assault would certainly result in casualties, throughout history, which emperor who expanded territory hadn’t conquered the realm on horseback? War inevitably brought casualties—this was an immutable fact that no one could change as history’s wheels turned.
“Daddy!” Han Ge’er toddled on his short legs, pulling Zhao Ge’er as he ran toward Pang Xiao.
Hearing the call, Pang Xiao turned around and couldn’t help but smile. He scooped up Han Ge’er, who had run up with arms outstretched seeking a hug, and picked up Zhao Ge’er with his other arm.
Zhao Ge’er wrapped his arms around Pang Xiao’s neck without making a sound, obediently leaning against his father while gazing questioningly at the distant city gates.
Han Ge’er, however, mischievously tried to climb onto Pang Xiao’s neck, grabbing his father’s hair for leverage like a restless little monkey.
Ji Zeyu watched from the side as Pang Xiao grimaced from having his hair pulled, shaking his head in amusement as he waved to Han Ge’er: “Han Ge’er, come to Uncle Ji.”
“Uncle Ji, I want to go high!”
Ji Zeyu was puzzled, not quite understanding what the child meant.
Qin Yining had by now approached them and said helplessly, “This child wants to sit on shoulders—don’t indulge him.” Then she told Han Ge’er, “You’re a big boy now, why do you always want to sit on shoulders?”
“It’s fine.” Ji Zeyu understood and lifted Han Ge’er onto his shoulders, holding both the child’s small hands.
This was a novel experience for Ji Zeyu. Having no children of his own, this was his first taste of something like fatherly joy. The child’s soft little body sitting on his shoulders had virtually no weight, yet felt like carrying something very important.
Ji Zeyu was about the same height as Pang Xiao, so sitting on his shoulders felt the same as riding on Pang Xiao’s. Han Ge’er was delighted, shaking Ji Zeyu’s hands and swinging his little legs, his heels inadvertently kicking Ji Zeyu’s shoulders several times.
“Uncle Ji, what are they doing?”
Ji Zeyu patiently replied, “They might be deploying troops.”
Pang Xiao had also let Zhao Ge’er ride on his neck, supporting the child with both hands. “Not necessarily. I think they’re more likely trying to surrender.”
This remark drew hearty laughter from the surrounding soldiers.
Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er had never seen such a scene. Hearing all the adults laughing, they laughed along too.
Seeing the two children sitting on Ji Zeyu’s and Pang Xiao’s shoulders laughing so happily, Qin Yining and Qin Huaiyuan couldn’t help but smile as well.
Qin Yining felt somewhat moved. Ji Zeyu appeared cold and aloof, yet he was genuinely devoted to Pang Xiao, and he showed great patience even with Pang Xiao’s sons, being as gentle as if the formerly ice-cold person wasn’t him at all.
As they spoke, a large patch of red suddenly emerged from within the city gates.
These were officials wearing Great Zhou court robes—there must have been forty or fifty of them. They brought no troops or guards with them, simply hurrying out in this manner.
When one side boldly stepped forward between two armies, Pang Xiao’s side naturally wouldn’t show weakness.
He turned to hand the children to Qin Yining, smiling as he pinched her cheek. “I’m going to meet with them.”
Qin Yining held Zhao Ge’er. “All right, be careful.”
Pang Xiao smiled casually. “That bunch of fellows isn’t capable of doing anything to me.”
He turned around, leaped onto “Dark Cloud” that Huzi had brought over, held his long blade in reverse grip, and rode out alone past the crowd, heading straight for that group of civil officials.
Ji Zeyu was concerned and also handed Han Ge’er to Qin Yining. “I’ll go have a look too.”
Without waiting for Qin Yining’s response, he had already mounted “White Cloud” and spurred his horse to follow.
Without orders from their commander, neither the Huben Army nor the Pingnan Army made any rash moves, but everyone tensed up. Even without the prince’s orders, they all wore stern expressions, ready for battle at any moment.
Pang Xiao had now reached the group of officials. He pulled the reins, and Dark Cloud reared up on its hind legs with a whinny.
“What brings you gentlemen out of the city with such ceremony?”
Pang Xiao sat upright on his horse, looking down at the people before him.
Ji Zeyu arrived shortly after, reining in his horse beside Pang Xiao and looking questioningly at him.
Before Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu could say anything more, the leader of the officials stepped forward, bowing with lowered head in salute: “Greetings, Your Highness. We have come to open the city gates and welcome Your Highness for the sake of the capital’s people.”
“Oh?” Pang Xiao lightly tapped his riding crop against his palm. “You’re welcoming this prince? Has His Majesty had a change of heart and ordered you to receive me with such ceremony?”
“Indeed, we have come specifically to welcome you. But this is not by His Majesty’s order.”
The leader was Yu Ziqiu. Now seeing Pang Xiao and being intimidated by his imposing presence, he didn’t speak with the same confidence he’d had in the palace.
He respectfully performed a salute and said solemnly, “We are all remnant ministers of Northern Ji. Regarding past events, this old minister is quite clear about them, and we know that every sentence in the proclamation issued by Prince Zhou Lian of the former dynasty speaks the truth. Though we are without talent, we at least know that we must let the people survive. Therefore, we have opened the city gates wide here to show Your Highness our sincerity.”